photosensitive epilepsy

Photosensitive epilepsy is when seizures are triggered by flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. Photosensitive epilepsy is not common but it may be diagnosed when you have an EEG test. This type of epilepsy usually responds well to treatment. Flashing or patterned effects can make people with or without epilepsy feel disorientated, uncomfortable or unwell. This does not necessarily mean they have photosensitive epilepsy.

How common is photosensitive epilepsy?

Around 1 in 100 people has epilepsy and of these people, up to 5% have photosensitive epilepsy. This is when seizures are triggered by certain rates of flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. Photosensitive epilepsy is more common in children and young people and is less commonly diagnosed after the age of 20.

How can I tell if I am photosensitive?

Many people know they are photosensitive if they have a seizure when exposed to flashing lights or patterns as a photosensitive trigger will usually cause a seizure straightaway. An electroencephalogram EEG carried out to help with diagnosis, may include testing for photosensitive epilepsy. This involves looking at a light which will flash at different speeds. If this causes any changes in brain activity, the technician can stop the test before a seizure develops.

What rate of flashing light can trigger seizures?

Between 3-30 hertz (flashes per second) are the common rates to trigger seizures but this varies from person to person. While some people are sensitive at frequencies up to 60 hertz, sensitivity under 3 hertz is not common.

What patterns can trigger seizures?

Some people are sensitive to geometric patterns with contrasts of light and dark such as stripes or bars. Patterns are more likely to be a trigger if they are changing direction or flashing, rather than if they are still or moving slowly in one direction.

Flashing, flickering or patterned effects can make people with or without epilepsy feel disorientated, uncomfortable or unwell. This does not necessarily mean they have photosensitive epilepsy.

How is photosensitive epilepsy treated?

Photosensitive epilepsy usually responds well to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) that treat generalised seizures (seizures that affect both sides of the brain at once).

Managing photosensitive epilepsy

Possible triggers if you have photosensitive epilepsy

Flashing or flickering lights or images between 3 and 60 hertz (flashes per second).

A contrasting dark and light geometric pattern, such as black and white stripes or checks.

Factors that may increase the photosensitive risk

Tiredness, stress or excitement. For example, playing a video game for a long time without breaks.

The effect taking up all your field of vision. For example, being very close to a screen.

Seeing the effect against a dark background, such as watching a screen in a darkened room.

If suddenly exposed to a trigger

Covering one eye completely with your hand will greatly reduce the photosensitive effect.

What may have a photosensitive trigger?

TV and computer screens that flicker

Cathode ray tube TVs (older box style) which ‘refresh’ the image, if this causes a flicker rate between 3 and 60 hertz (flashes per second).

Faulty TVs or other screens that flicker.

With 3D TV, there are two systems, called 'active' and 'passive'. With 'active' 3D glasses, switching suddenly between 3D and non-3D screens or channels may cause a lot of flicker for a few seconds, if the 3D signal to the glasses has not yet switched off. If there is a window next to the 3D TV, in daylight conditions the window may also reflect the flicker.

A flashing image on a computer screen or game.

Patterns in the natural environment

Sunlight through trees.

Sunlight through blinds.

Sunlight on water.

Railings, escalators or other structures creating repetitive patterns as you move past them.

Polarising sunglasses reduce reflection and glare such as sunlight on water.

UK regulations

Ofcom regulations require that TV programmes and news stories have a warning if there is going to be a high level of flashes in the programme.

The Health and Safety Executive recommends that strobe lighting in clubs or at public performances, flashes at a maximum rate of four hertz (flashes per second) or less.

What is unlikely to be a photosensitive trigger?

Triggers are individual, but the following sources in themselves are not generally likely to trigger photosensitive seizures.

UK TV programme content. Ofcom regulates material shown on TV in the UK. The regulations restrict the flash rate to three hertz or less, and they also restrict the area of screen allowed for flashing lights or alternating patterns.

Digital TV and plasma screens. Adjusting the brightness down on some screens can be helpful if you have photosensitive epilepsy.

3D TV is not in itself likely to be a problem (see above for possible risks with 3D TV).

Modern computer or TV screens have a very high flicker frequency. Flatscreen monitors, such as laptops, have a liquid crystal display ( LCD) that does not flicker, so are even less likely to trigger seizures.

Cinema and hand-held screens. Due to the size of the screen and the low intensity, it is rare for seizures to be triggered by films in a cinema, or by hand-held miniature screens.

‘Real 3D’ cinema films Images are projected separately at each eye, reducing the already low intensity of the cinema screen even further and so there should be even less risk of seizures being triggered by ‘real 3D’ in cinemas.

Interactive whiteboards are unlikely to trigger a seizure, unless another flickering light source in the room reflects onto the whiteboard.

Festive lights usually flash at around one hertz, so are usually too slow to be a risk. Several circuits flashing together could raise the flash rate.